1.2 In What Ways Can River Basins Be A Multi-Use Resource (Mekong)
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- Created on: 08-05-14 18:10
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- 1.2 In What Ways Can River Basins Be A Multi-Use Resource? (Mekong)
- South East Asia's largest river, world's 8th largest
- Value as a resource is immence
- Water Supply
- Industrial
- Recreational
- 6 countries share The Mekong, causing conflict
- largest city on The Mekong only has 1.1 million inhabitants
- Value as a resource is immence
- Transportation
- It is Limited because the river is not navigable
- In the dry season, when the river is low, there are reefs and shifting sand bars
- When the water level rises, many rapids of the Si Phan Don (Four Thousand Islands) form an obstacle to shipping
- Industrial and Economic Development
- Limited in the early 20th century, accelerated since.
- Located in the fast-emerging pacific rim
- Government of China and Vietnam keen to develop national economies.
- first dam was built was not completed until 1993
- first bridge across the lower Mekong was built in 1994 between Laos and Thailand.
- Population growing rapidly but economic growth is increasing even faster.
- Residential Development
- home to 55 million people, have to contend with wide spread flooding.
- in 2000, over 800 people died and many more were displaced.
- population is predicted to rise.
- more demand on infrastructure and water supply.
- Disposal of sewage already a challenge, finding much of it in the river.
- Recreation and Leisure
- one of the fastest growing destinations
- Mekong river is benefiting from the economic growth.
- development of expansion has the potential to conflict with locals and activities such as fishing
- region recieve funding from the Asian Development Bank, help conserve environment and implement sustainable development
- Energy Development
- HEP potential is considerable , mainly due to steep relief and large volume of water transported.
- only 1600 MW out of 30,000 MW of the Lower Mekong Basin has been developed.
- dams generate valuable electricity, aid irrigation and regulate flooding.
- dams caused irreplaceable damage to Mekong's most valuable resource, its fisheries.
- Farming and Water Supply
- Farming hampered by the large seasonal floods that occur each year.
- 80% of Rice production depends of water, silt and nutrients.
- Very rich fishing grounds.
- Dams could mean less frequent flooding, reducing fishing and farming.
- Fishing and Water Supply
- yield more fish than anyother fishing system
- 2 million tonnes harvested.
- home to over 1200 different species
- South East Asia's largest river, world's 8th largest
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